Today we’d like to introduce you to Danyelle Wilson.
Hi Danyelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My Journey to Becoming a Birth Doula
From a young age, I was fascinated with the idea of becoming a mother. I always imagined myself giving birth without medication—not because I felt I had something to prove, but because I wanted to fully experience what my body was capable of. My family doubted that I was “strong enough” to do it, but that only pushed me to learn everything I could.
During my research, the word doula kept appearing. I had never heard of one before, but the more I read, the more it felt like the missing piece. I interviewed a few doulas and eventually chose the Charlotte Doula Team—Andrea and Sarah—two incredible women who supported me through both of my births. With their guidance, encouragement, and constant presence, I not only felt empowered, but I achieved both of my unmedicated births. Those experiences left a deep imprint on me. After having my children, I became fascinated with the idea of being a doula myself. I wanted to offer other families the kind of empowerment I had been given.
Not long after my second birth, when I was just five weeks postpartum, everything changed. I began hemorrhaging at home—something I didn’t immediately recognize. When it became clear that something was very wrong, my husband came home to care for our newborn and a neighbor rushed me to the hospital. Unfortunately, instead of being met with compassion and urgency, I was met with dismissal. My symptoms were minimized, my voice was brushed aside, and the care I needed wasn’t taken seriously.
After being transferred to another hospital for surgery to remove retained products, things only grew worse. What should have been a simple, in-and-out procedure turned into a traumatic series of events. Despite the nurse’s concern of the continuous bleeding and blood clots pouring out, the doctor insisted my continued bleeding was “normal.” I fought to stay because I knew something wasn’t right. On the third attempt to clean me up from blood soaked linens and clots continuously coming out bigger than my hand, things took a terrifying turn—I lost consciousness on the bathroom floor. And even then, the doctor acted as though my situation was an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
There is so much more to that story, but that experience became my why.
It shaped the heart of my business, Beyond the Womb. I named it that because my mission goes far beyond the moment of birth. I want every client to feel supported, advocated for, heard, and deeply cared for—before, during, and after their baby arrives. I never want another parent to feel powerless or dismissed the way I did. I want them to feel strong in their abilities, confident in their choices, and surrounded by unwavering support.
My journey wasn’t easy, but it lit a fire in me: to walk beside others through one of the most transformative moments of their lives and ensure that their experience is one of empowerment—not fear.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After my traumatic postpartum experience, I felt an overwhelming urgency to begin my doula education. In March, just two months after hemorrhaging and going through two botched surgeries—I enrolled in school to get certified. I knew deep down that what happened to me should never happen to anyone else. Becoming a doula wasn’t just a dream anymore; it felt like a calling.
But the journey was not as smooth as I expected.
Only a short time into my training, I started experiencing severe, unexplained pain month after month. I didn’t know then that more complications from those surgeries were waiting to unfold. For nearly the entire year, I struggled with ongoing health issues until, in December, I finally got answers: I had been having a period every month, but the blood never left my body. An ultrasound revealed that it was circulating inside my uterus and flowing back into my body. I would need yet another surgery.
Hearing that was terrifying, especially after what I had already survived.
At that time, I had a newborn, a one-year-old, and I was a full-time kindergarten teacher. I was exhausted, in constant pain, and still trying to show up for everyone who depended on me. There was no way I could focus on doula school, even though it meant everything to me. Thankfully, I had a full year, from March 2024 to March 2025—to finish the program. I told myself I would start again fresh in January.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I pushed through, determined to complete what I started. I fast-tracked every course, every assignment, and every hour I needed. By the grace of God, I finished all of my requirements the week of March 2025—exactly one year from when I began. It wasn’t easy, but I buckled down and did what I had to do because my purpose was bigger than my pain.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Beyond the Womb is more than a doula service—it’s a mission rooted in advocacy, safety, and deeply compassionate care.
As a certified birth and postpartum doula, I specialize in supporting families through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum period. I am known for creating an empowering, calm, and informed experience for every client, while also advocating fiercely for their needs. My care style is very hands-on, emotionally attuned, and rooted in education. I guide my clients through evidence-based birth preparation, comfort techniques, emotional support, and postpartum healing.
What truly sets me apart is my “why.” My business was born out of my own traumatic postpartum experience—an experience where my voice wasn’t heard and my health concerns were dismissed. After surviving a severe hemorrhage and multiple complications, I made a promise that no one I serve will ever feel alone, unheard, or overlooked in their most vulnerable moments. My personal journey gives me a unique level of empathy, attentiveness, and advocacy that goes far beyond standard doula care.
Beyond the Womb represents my belief that support shouldn’t end at birth. I walk with families through the entire process—emotionally, physically, and informationally—ensuring they feel safe, respected, and confident in their choices. My clients often describe me as grounding, reassuring, and deeply present.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that every part of Beyond the Womb reflects healing, resilience, and empowerment. It is a brand built on compassion, integrity, and the belief that every birthing person deserves a positive, dignified experience.
For readers, I want them to know that my services are personalized to each family. Whether someone wants an unmedicated birth, a medicated birth, a VBAC, or simply wants emotional comfort and advocacy, I meet them exactly where they are. My offerings include birth doula support, postpartum doula care, childbirth education, birth planning, and ongoing emotional support.
At Beyond the Womb, my mission is simple:
To ensure that every family feels heard, supported, empowered, and cared for—long before, during, and long after birth.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see the birth industry moving toward more holistic, personalized, and empowered care. Families are becoming increasingly informed and are seeking support that honors their autonomy, their intuition, and their emotional well-being, not just the medical side of birth. I believe we will see a growing demand for doulas, midwives, and birth workers who can bridge the gap between medical care and compassionate, continuous support.
Hospitals and providers are also beginning to recognize the value of doulas, especially as research continues to show improvements in birth outcomes, reduced intervention rates, and better overall experiences when families have continuous support. I think we’ll see doulas becoming more integrated into hospital systems, as well as an expansion in birth center and home birth options as families look for respectful, evidence-based alternatives.
As for me, my passion lies in empowering women. No matter where they choose to give birth. Whether it’s in a hospital or at home, I want every mother to feel seen, heard, and supported. My long-term goal is to open my own birth center, a place where families can receive safe, compassionate care grounded in dignity, autonomy, and education. I envision a space where healing, empowerment, and community come together, and where families can experience birth in the way that feels right for them.
Ultimately, I think the future of birth work is moving toward honoring the whole person, not just the process, and I’m excited to be part of that transformation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beyondthewombdoula.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthewombdoula/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Beyond-The-Womb-Doula/61574446869673/
